Genetically modified poultry does not transmit the H5N1 virus

According to a study published in the journal Science on January 13, European scientists have succeeded in creating genetically modified chickens that do not transmit the A / H5N1 virus.

After a period of research, experts from both Cambridge and Edinburgh universities confirmed that genetically modified poultry could be infected with influenza A / H5N1 but could not be transmitted to other children to erupt into a pandemic.

According to researchers, this is an encouraging result and successfully prevented the spread of A / H5N1 virus in poultry flocks, which will contribute to reducing economic losses as well as reducing the risk of transmission to humans.

Scientist Laurence Tiley said that research is now in the early stages and that genetic modification is the first important step in the development of an immune-capable poultry flock . In addition, genetically modified technology has demonstrated the ability to enhance animal resistance, greatly improving economic and food security in many countries affected by bird flu.

Influenza A / H5N1 caused by viruses can spread from poultry to humans and cause high mortality, often occurring in the winter-spring season is always a concern of countries with developed livestock in the world. People with the disease have symptoms such as fever, body fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat, cough, eye pain, diarrhea, difficulty breathing. The disease progresses very fast and mortality rates are usually between 60-70%.

The first case of patients infected with influenza A / H5N1 was discovered in Hongkong (China) in 1997. The pandemic broke out globally since 2004.